MEDIA RELEASE

Zimbabwe Farmer of the Year Award Winner Receives First Prize Case IH Tractor

Photo 2: Hon. Minister Mandi M.Chimene handing over the tractor to Mrs Maengeni Bingadhade and her team

Case IH and its dealer Southern Region Trading Co. (SRTC) supported this year’s edition of the coveted Farmer of the Year Award, bestowed by the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS), and provided the first prize, a JX75T 2WD tractor donated by the dealer. The award was won by Mrs Maengeni Bingandade, a small farmer from Mutare, in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe.

The farm was shortlisted by the jury in recognition of the quality of their produce presented at the exhibition and how it was displayed. The farm’s well-managed homestead and fields, diversified through horticulture, crops and livestock, earned the first prize.

The official award ceremony was held on the Case IH stand at the Harare Agricultural Show, when guest of honour, Mr Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique made the symbolic handover of the keys to Mrs Bingandade beside the Case IH JX75T.

The first prize JX75T two-wheel-drive tractor was delivered to Mrs Bingandade’s farm on November 20 by Case IH distributor Southern Region Trading Company. The handover was a well-attended event with the participation of most Provincial and District Administrators as well as farmers from across Manicaland. It was presided by resident Minister and Governor of the province Hon. Mandi Chimene and Mr Dominic Kasere, General Manager of SRTC, who jointly handed the tractor keys and tool kit to Mrs Bingandade.

The handover was preceded by a tour of the residential plot led by the ZAS judges and Arex officials, who explained the reasons for their choice of Mrs Bingandade as the winner.

Hon. Chimene commended Case IH dealer SRTC for supporting the land programme spearheaded by the government and donating a tractor to a small farmer.

“By sponsoring an award like Farmer of the Year we aim to raise awareness of the possibilities that mechanisation offers to increase a farm’s productivity and efficiency, benefiting its bottom line,” explained Jason Smith of Southern Region Trading Company. “The JX75T is perfect for a small farmer like Mrs Bingandade, who needs a totally reliable tractor that delivers a high performance in a variety of applications, from soil preparation and operating implements to pulling trailers and transport.”

Small farmer with big plans

Mrs Bingandade farms 3 hectares with diversified crops that include butternut, water melon, beans and maize, and raises cows, goats and chickens. “Our biggest challenges on the farm are the limited inputs, access to water and the small size of the plot of land,” explains Mrs Bingandade. “We farm with a plough and cultivator, so the Case IH tractor will make a big difference to us: we will be able to spend less time in the field and increase the hectares we are farming. To be awarded was a huge honour, and it gave me motivation to strive for greater heights, to work harder.”

JXT tractors are simple, reliable and economical – true workhorses. The high-efficiency engines consistently deliver a powerful performance with exceptionally low operating costs. The turbocharger increases the oxygen available to the engine, optimising fuel combustion. The result: lower emissions and more power. With their high engine backup torque, they can deal effortlessly with sudden loads at constant engine rpm.

They are exceptionally versatile with transmissions engineered to deliver high output and PTO capable of powering a wide range of implements with ease and precision. Their hydraulic system adjusts the height of implements according to the soil and the requirements of the application based on 24 sensing positions. JXT tractors can also operate implements at low speeds thanks to ground PTO, whose speed is proportional to the tractor's travel speed.

The JXT is designed to provide a comfortable work environment, with outstanding visibility all round and easy access, ideal for hopping on and off while doing multiple jobs around the farm.